Which Programs Avoid Fuel Surcharges on Awards
What fuel surcharges are
A fuel surcharge, sometimes labeled a carrier-imposed charge, is a cash fee an airline attaches to a ticket on top of taxes. On an award booking you pay it out of pocket, and on a long-haul business or first class seat it can reach several hundred dollars, which quietly erodes the value of your points. Whether you pay it depends less on the flight and more on which program you book through. See award flights with high surcharges.
The programs that generally waive them
A handful of programs are known for not passing carrier-imposed surcharges onto partner awards, which makes them the escape hatch for expensive metal. Air Canada Aeroplan, United MileagePlus, Alaska Mileage Plan, and Avianca LifeMiles generally do not add these surcharges, so you can often book a surcharge-heavy airline's flight through one of them and pay only taxes. Because the exact treatment can vary by partner and route, confirm the total cash cost at the payment screen before you commit.
Match the program to the metal
The move is to identify which surcharge-free program can book the seat you want. If you are eyeing a carrier that normally imposes heavy surcharges, look for a partner program that waives them and prices the award reasonably, then transfer your points there. The seat is the same; only the cash you pay and the miles required change. See how to book a flight with points.
Stop guessing at point values. Look up the real award price and live availability for a specific trip before you transfer.
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